Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.127, No.17, 6276-6283, 2005
Biomimetic synthesis of antimalarial naphthoquinones
The total synthesis of naphthoquinone natural products isolated from the Bignoniaceae plant family is described. Pinnatal, isopinnatal, sterekunthals A and B, pyranokunthones A and B, and anthrakunthone have been prepared along the lines of a biosynthetic proposal involving pericyclic reactions as key steps. The first case of catalysis in oxa 6 pi elect rocyclizations is reported.